Tag Archives: snooker

I have been giving this a bit of thought , GCL Billiards is a traditional name for snooker tables although the words Cue sports is often used to describe all type’s of tables , some customers that have a pool table think , well we don’t want to go down the route of getting a billiards or snooker firm in to recover our table , they will charge too much , and Clients with snooker tables may think steer clear of that firm they do Pool tables , we don’t want a pool table fitter working on our table , we only want a fully qualified time served billiards fitter . that is not to say that Pool tables are inferior to Snooker tables , it is just that they are Recovered in differant methods and skills , A snooker table for instance should have it’s bed cloth tacked on , this will enable restretching at a later date , a pool table cloth is glued on unless it is an american pool table then it is stapled on , they do not require restretching , my method of glueing a bed cloth on a pool table is second to none , you will not have any issue’s with cloth coming off around the pocket falls, or even coming all off the slate due to very bad spray on glue being used , or a fittter being in too much of a hurry to wait for the glue to go off . A fitter should not use the same methods of recovering a pool table on a snooker table and thats where the divide come’s from , Club secreterys have made the mistake of not having a time served billiards fitter on the snooker table and the fitter has covered it the same way he recovers a pool table , and I have seen this over the years stapled and glued on bed cloths on a snooker table ? , Pool and snooker have their own way of maintenance schedule .

For this reason I am about to open a sepperate web site for pool table recovers ,sales and rental only , I will link the site to this one and vice versa , this way I am sure to capture both markets of which I am experienced in , I do not charge over the rates of a normal pool table recover just because I am a fully time served billiards fitter , I do not lower my standards for maintaining Snooker tables just because I also work on pool tables , through experience working in Pool and Snooker I know there is a bit of a divide when it comes down to the games .

What you can be sure of is that after 37 years experience of working on both Pool and snooker tables ,GCL Billiards will always do reputable work to the highest standard for both parties , I will update news of the new web site as soon as it is up and running .

If you join this forum you can read most of my posts under the FORUM section and look under TABLES section down the list , I have answered many questions regarding Billiard Tables my name on there that I post under is my own name Geoff Large , I get questions from all over the world on the subject of type’s of tables and history etc from , France / Germany / Spain / USA / Canada / China and Thailand / Australia / Bulgaria / latvia even Dubai to name just a few countries . but mostly here in the UK. , also questions about buying a table what to look for , lighting , heating , Room size etc .

another name to look out for on there is an historian he uses the name 100-uper , I not only give information but also learn about subjects regarding Snooker /billiards and pool that I have not heard before , I think it is impossible in life to know the entire subject about billiard tables , I am always learning , take Dave Gibsons lazor ball ramp , I have never seen one of those before . and 100-uper has knowledge about the history of firms and dateing tables etc , he has a vast collection of Books advertisements and photo’s etc .

I have struck up a common friendship also with other Billiard table fitters that also contribute to the snooker forum , so if you have a night to read through the snooker forum under tables section , I am sure you will find it an interesting read .

Today I have been in the workshop custom making some adjustable brackets for converting a standard table to incorporate adjustable slate supports, these are called centre muntins in the billiard trade.

I have two tables in the same club to retro fit these parts to. I will be taking photographs of the finished job next week and putting them in my photo gallery on this site. Many tables in the 1980’s had soft Italian slate being used on them unlike the older thicker welsh slate. It is not as good or as dense as welsh slate.

The modern method of making the table frames ignored the traditional centre muntin slate support being level with the side frame to stop slate deflection. This resulted in many tables being sold where the slates would sag down in the middle over time. Today tables are made with adjustable slate muntins which support the centre of the slate across its 6 foot span and stop any deflection or ‘sag’ as it is commonly known.
This is a photo of the underside of the table before I fitted the retro adjustable muntin supports. as you can see nothing there to support the slate from sagging in the centre of the table .

The two tables in question should have had the adjustable slate supports in them, but they were just not fitted at the time of installation. This has resulted in the tables playing out of true and the balls rolling in from each side is the result of sagging slates.

My custom made muntin brackets will rectify the problem. It may not be able to rectify it in one go, so I may have to call a couple of visits to tweak the centre muntins by a simple 1/4 turn of 6 bolts that will take the sag out of the slates.
This photo shows the new Muntin’s fitted underneath the slate , note the adjustable nut for screwing the muntin upwards to support the slate.
If you are having problems with snooker table level, please get in touch. I am sure I can find a solution for you.

I visited Beeston Snooker Hall yesterday and got talking to Dave Gibson, owner of Beeston Snooker Hall since the 1960’s. Dave has always been one for Gadgets. Many people would think “why would he want one of those”, but I have known Dave for many years and he is always interested in electronics and the technical side of Snooker.

On this occasion he was showing me his self-made ball ramp with laser for testing speed of a table cloth and also bounce of a cushion. The device also shows that a true level table can still roll out with nap and also natural slate warp dip spots. The laser pointer that is installed in this Ball ramp realy shows the ball rolling off, yet my engineers level and also electronic digital level – which are very accurate pieces of equipment – show the slate at that point is true.

I was very impressed with this gadget (I should not really call it that as it is a nice bit of scientific equipment). We were talking about the pro tables on TV. I am sure even those would show a ball rolling out on the thin match cloth with this bit of equipment when the fitter had got it spot on for level, This device also confirmed that I got the recent bed cloths that had been fitted tight as the speed was as good as worn out no nap table cloth.

When I am recovering tables in many snooker clubs and halls I often overhear players comment after a bad shot “the table is not level it rolled off a mile”. What players have to take into consideration is strength of nap, length of nap, thickness of cloth, temperature of table, finger drag marks in cloth and sweat off hands on cloth. All these can take a slow ball off its intended direction. Did you also know that when a ball strikes another ball the force is also transferred down the ball towards the cloth. The same is also true when a ball strikes the cushion, that is why you get track marks along the edge of the table and around the pocket openings and also on the black and pink spots which wear indentations in them quicker than the other spots because people always go for the highest scoring ball.

In Dave’s Snooker Hall he also has large fans that can cause a down draught on the table. Just like a current in a river these down daughts leave a current of air rebounding off the tables and also players as they stand underneath them redirecting air flow. Players do not realy look into the outside forces of a ball rolling off. They always blame the table being out of level.

True out of level tables ?
When we get a table that is truly out of level it may be just a simple jack up and reshim the legs to even it out, or it may be warped frame work which may incorporate a rather expensive full strip down, slates off and reshooting of the frame level.

In recent years (the 1980’s onwards) some modern table manufacturers have not been manufacturing the tables correctly in that the inner muntins (slate supports) are not in contact with the slate. This causes the softer Italian slate to dip in the middle. I refer this as a slate sag issue caused by no support in the centre of the slate. I have devised a way of rectifying this by using adjustable muntins. Brackets are fitted on the underside of the framework in the centre and three square and true floating muntins are used with adjustable bolts to tighten and adjust pressure to the centre of the slate upwards. Over time a little 1/4 turn of the adjustable muntins will cure the slate dip.

If you know of a table that has this issue of balls rolling from each side towards the centre of the slate, I can retro fit these adjustable muntins to any table without taking the slates off. Please get in touch for a quote.

My first half a month trading as GCL Billiards , and I have been pretty busy , 8 Full size Recovers , 1 table dismantle and store , 2 stretch bed cloths , 1 open pockets up and recover cushions , + 2 more recovers just been booked in ,

Now is the time to get a special rate for a Recover from GCL BILLIARDS rather than waiting for the Winter Season to Start , so Why not email or Phone Me to get your quote now .
August is always a slow month for Billiard fitting it is the last month of the summer before the Season realy kicks off for Pool and Snooker .
I expect September and October to be realy busy with clubs all requiring Recovers or cloth Restretching at the same time , avoid disappointment , Have
your Table Refurbished in August , the Players will be better prepared for the Winter by getting used to the New cloth a few weeks before .

After a recover , New cloth will be slow with plenty of nap on from new , unlike the worn out cloth that is now approaching the end of its lifespan , the old cloth must play like glass and be very fast , players like fast cloths but on a worn out cloth it is very difficult to control the cue ball for back spin and side swerve , this is down to the cloth having no grip unlike a new cloth with good nap direction , a new cloth has to be played on and the players will adjust their game based on a few weeks of play , they will be better prepared for any snooker or Pool league .
I always check and adjust the level if required when Recovering , the slate is also cleaned off from all chalk dust ,and the joints are checked for gaps and filled .
this is something that speed fitters are renowned for not doing , one thing you can be sure of the time and effort will be put in on each table by GCL BILLIARDS .

Volume or speed work is not a word I like to hear , you never rush a game of Snooker and Billiard Fitting is the same , I also treat all my customers on an Equal footing , I do not go by their house post code or what Car they Drive to assess the price to be charged , my rates are all the same for everyone . but of course multi tabled snooker clubs may get a better rate for repeat work .

This week I have teamed up with a local Removals Firm to offer a top class service on logistics for Snooker Tables , I used to work with these guys a few years ago and the logistical move of a table from one premises to another will go much smoother and safer both for me and the Clients furnishings useing these professionals rather than low paid casual unskilled workers being bought in just for the one day to help move a snooker table , the Clients table will be fully wrapped up , every leg and table part is sepperatley cacooned in a Removals blankets before being loaded onto the van , and strapped down .

The Clients table will arrive from the dismantle to erecting in the new premises without any marks or Scuffs that where not present when dismantleing ..
Carpet protection Blankets are also used in the premises of the Client .

This service will be more than your average ebay listing for the same logistics , but the removals firm is fully insured and have been in the removals business for over 25 years . They can also Quote for a Full house removals .
I have added a link to their Web site http://www.jonills-removals.co.uk
They will of course include my services as the Time Served Billiards fitter doing all the work of the skilled parts of dismantle and erect and level of youre treasured Cuesports table . leaving you ready for play .

The vans they use are larger than a normal 35cwt LWB Billiards van so extra items can be taken with the table if Required .

Please note extra labour may be required if the table is located up or Down stairs , jonhills removals have various ramps for small steps etc , but a larger staircase will require more labour to help lift those heavy slates .up or down . also note dog legged staircase’s can be very tricky to manoeuvre around .

We always use a piano trolly for transporting the slates to and from the van on a level floor . they have rubber wheels and with the carpet protection you can be assured no damage or marks will be left on youre house carpet or wooden floor .

You can be assured that Myself and Jonills Removals have come across almost every situation of moving a table , we are all experts at solving awkward access to premises .

I first became interested in the art of Billiard fitting in 1975. I had just left the Army and was looking for work. My uncle Ron Hume had started a business a few years earlier trading in Pool tables and Snooker tables using a skilled Billiards fitter subcontractor named Mick Robb who had a firm called Belvoir Billiards based in Watton near Grantham. I really admired Mick as I could see he was a skilled craftsman and cabinet maker. He quickly took me under his wing and trained me and my cousin Gary for the next 5 years.

In 1980 Mick advised me to join an old established billiards / snooker firm in Nottingham called Elston and Hopkin Billiards Ltd in order to further my career.

I followed Mick’s advice and I joined Elston and Hopkin the same year. I could not have wished for a better company to work for and I rapidly improved my skills as a billiards fitter. Although I had by that time been in the trade for 5 years, I did not class myself as fully skilled until a further 3 years had passed. My work partner at Elston and Hopkin was Roger Percyzhinski. We clicked immediately working extremely well together and I also learnt a lot from him.

I must also say that our boss John Hopkin was without doubt the best boss I have ever worked for. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and he always treated us well with bonus schemes and extra Holidays. We repaid his kindness by working extremely hard for him.

By 2004 the company was struggling and John Hopkin was well beyond retirement age. He sold the name and goodwill of the company to Universal Logic who still use the trading name Elston & Hopkin. However the limited company (Elston & Hopkin Billiards Ltd) was closed down and ceased trading.

Roger left after just 6 months working for Universal Logic and he set himself up on his own. I stayed for a further 8 years but in 2012 I decided it was time to go it alone and work for myself. All of the training and experience I gained over the previous 37 years stood me well in my trade.

I have just about worked on every cue sports table in the industry from the early Reni Pierre and Rutigliani ring pocket pool tables to steel block full size snooker match tables. There have been some oddities too. I have worked for famous sportsmen, people in the entertainment business, snooker professionals, rock stars and working class people such as coal miners.

I treat every client on a level basis. I strive to do an excellent job and I have gained very good feedback from many happy customers.

If you require any work on your cue sports table, whether it be pool, snooker, bagatelle, bar billiards or anything else then do not hesitate to get in touch.